The apostle continues the comparison between the former and the present state of a believer, and at the same time endeavours to wean the Jewish believers from their fondness for the Mosaic law. I speak to them that know the law — To the Jews chiefly here. As long — So long, and no longer. As it live... [ Continue Reading ]
She is freed from the law of her husband — From that law which gave him a peculiar property in her.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus ye also — Are now as free from the Mosaic law as an husband is, when his wife is dead. By the body of Christ — Offered up; that is, by the merits of his death, that law expiring with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
When ye were in the flesh — Carnally minded, in a state of nature; before we believed in Christ. Our sins which were by the law — Accidentally occasioned, or irritated thereby. Wrought in our members — Spread themselves all over the whole man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being dead to that whereby we were held — To our old husband, the law. That we might serve in newness of spirit — In a new, spiritual manner. And not in the oldness of the letter — Not in a bare literal, external way, as we did before.... [ Continue Reading ]
What shall we say then — This is a kind of a digression, to the beginning of the next chapter, wherein the apostle, in order to show in the most lively manner the weakness and inefficacy of the law, changes the person and speaks as of himself, concerning the misery of one under the law. This St. Pau... [ Continue Reading ]
But sin — My inbred corruption. Taking occasion by the commandment — Forbidding, but not subduing it, was only fretted, and wrought in me so much the more all manner of evil desire. For while I was without the knowledge of the law, sin was dead — Neither so apparent, nor so active; nor was I under t... [ Continue Reading ]
And I was once alive without the law — Without the close application of it. I had much life, wisdom, virtue, strength: so I thought. But when the commandment — That is, the law, a part put for the whole; but this expression particularly intimates its compulsive force, which restrains, enjoins, urges... [ Continue Reading ]
The commandment which was intended for life — Doubtless it was originally intended by God as a grand means of preserving and increasing spiritual life, and leading to life everlasting.... [ Continue Reading ]
Deceived me — While I expected life by the law, sin came upon me unawares and slew all my hopes.... [ Continue Reading ]
The commandment — That is, every branch of the law. Is holy, and just, and good — It springs from, and partakes of, the holy nature of God; it is every way just and right in itself; it is designed wholly for the good of man.... [ Continue Reading ]
Was then that which is good made the cause of evil to me; yea, of death, which is the greatest of evil? Not so. But it was sin, which was made death to me, inasmuch as it wrought death in me even by that which is good — By the good law. So that sin by the commandment became exceeding sinful — The co... [ Continue Reading ]
I am carnal — St. Paul, having compared together the past and present state of believers, that "in the flesh," Romans 7:5, and that "in the spirit," Romans 7:6, in answering two objections, (Is then the law sin? Romans 7:7, and, Is the law death? Romans 7:13,) interweaves the whole process of a man... [ Continue Reading ]
It is good — This single word implies all the three that were used before, Romans 7:12, "holy, just, and good.... [ Continue Reading ]
It is no more I that can properly be said to do it, but rather sin that dwelleth in me — That makes, as it were, another person, and tyrannizes over me.... [ Continue Reading ]
In my flesh — The flesh here signifies the whole man as he is by nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
I find then a law — An inward constraining power, flowing from the dictate of corrupt nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I delight in the law of God — This is more than "I consent to," Romans 7:16. The day of liberty draws near. The inward man — Called the mind, Romans 7:23, Romans 7:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I see another law in my members — Another inward constraining power of evil inclinations and bodily appetites. Warring against the law of my mind — The dictate of my mind, which delights in the law of God. And captivating me — In spite of all my resistance... [ Continue Reading ]
Wretched man that I am — The struggle is now come to the height; and the man, finding there is no help in himself, begins almost unawares to pray, Who shall deliver me? He then seeks and looks for deliverance, till God in Christ appears to answer his question. The word which we translate deliver, im... [ Continue Reading ]
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord — That is, God will deliver me through Christ. But the apostle, as his frequent manner is, beautifully interweaves his assertion with thanksgiving;' the hymn of praise answering in a manner to the voice of sorrow, "Wretched man that I am!" So then — He here... [ Continue Reading ]